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Housing

Question period exchanges on housing affordability, prompted by a Habitat for Humanity report saying that 56% of non-owning Canadians believe they will never own a home — the highest share among countries surveyed. The Conservatives said the government’s housing record has left young people unable to buy a home and asked the minister to acknowledge this. The Liberals pointed to their housing measures, including the housing accelerator fund’s support for Habitat for Humanity projects, tax cuts for first-time buyers, funding for services around new homes, efforts to lower building charges, and infrastructure investments they said are getting homes built.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Jacob Mantle

Conservative

Linked statement

“A new report says over half of Canadians who do not own a home think they never will. That is the highest rate of any country surveyed. The Prime Minister says housing is more affordable now, but that is not true.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Habitat for Humanity said this week that Canada is an outlier for all the wrong reasons. Canada is now the place where people who do not own a home have the least hope of ever owning one, as 56% of Canadians who do not own a home say they never will. That is twice the global average and the highest of any country surveyed. Yesterday, the Prime Minister stood here and claimed that housing affordability has improved. We know that is all talk and no action. If affordability has improved, why is Canada a place where Canadians do not believe they will ever own a home?

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Jennifer McKelvie

Liberal
“Our plan is helping young Canadians buy homes. We are cutting taxes for new buyers, paying for the services new homes need, and working to lower building fees so houses cost less.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by thanking Habitat for Humanity for the work it does. I am very excited that this summer in Ajax, with the help of the housing accelerator fund, we found land for Habitat for Humanity to build upon. That is just part of our plan for young Canadians across the country from coast to coast to coast. We have introduced the GST rebate for new homebuyers, which is helping our youth in this country to buy a home, but we are not stopping there. We are also investing in housing-enabling infrastructure. We are working with Ontario and B.C. to bring down development charges. That reduces the cost of a home.

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Jacob Mantle

Conservative
“The government has failed on housing. Young people cannot afford to buy a home, start a family, or build their lives. The minister needs to admit this failure and fix it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I too am grateful for the work of Habitat for Humanity. I just wish fewer Canadians needed it. Intentions do not build homes. The Liberals’ failure to deliver on housing means that the next generation has no hope of a home. That means their future is on hold, that the ability to buy a house, to start a family, to get the job they want and to stand on their own two feet is on hold. A Liberal government that believes that is affordability is out of touch. It is not good enough. It is not good enough for those Canadians. It is not good enough for our country. Is it good enough for the minister?

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Jennifer McKelvie

Liberal
“Our government is getting housing built across the country. Our infrastructure spending is building new homes and creating good jobs for young people.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to point out that Habitat for Humanity is building in my neighbouring riding of Whitby. We are so happy it is building housing for young Canadians from coast to coast to coast. In addition, I would like to point out that we are making record investments in infrastructure across the country. What that is doing is creating jobs for youth, high-paying careers, and building housing, infrastructure and major projects. Not only are we building houses, but we are also providing them jobs, and getting it done.

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